The Beaches
Kauai has beautiful beaches. If you just want to get away, relax. walk or snorkel all are possible within a short drive. The favorite beaches we found were mostly on the north shore:
Secret Beach is a short walk but worth it as it has dramatic rock formations, cliffs, waves and a view of the lighthouse.
Tunnels beach was one of our favorites, as it is long enough to walk and the reefs close to the shore make for great snorkeling. The beauty and variety of the fish we saw in Kauai were amazing.
Anini Beach is another beach worth mentioning. It has good snorkeling, as there is an outside reef keeping most of the waves out.
Larsen beach is quite a hike in but fairly unused and deserted because of it. If you like to be alone this is the place for you.
There were others of course but these were among our favorites. Another favorite is the fabulous beach at Hanalei Bay. Great for walking, but it is usually more crowded.
The Sunsets
The atmospheric color in Kauai is something special. There is a pastel and pink/purple hue to the sky, clouds and landscape I have never seen before. Some artists are able to capture this quality in their paintings, but you have to be there to really experience it.
The Flowers
We were there in January and the flowers, especially the orchids, were still blooming. Where else can you see orchids in the wild and not in greenhouses? What I didn’t know is that orchids don’t really need soil to grow. They literally grow on trees.
The Gardens
If you like gardens, Kauai is a great place to be. First of all the whole island is known as ‘The Garden Island.’ Second there are people who have dedicated themselves to preserving the native and indigenous plant populations before they are lost forever. There are some very special gardens in Kauai and most are a labor of love. Many highlight the canoe plants that were originally brought over by the Polynesians 2,000 years ago. Some are nonprofits dedicated to research.
Here are the best gardens we saw while in Kauai:
Hiking
Waterfalls
The other thing about Kauai are the waterfalls. There are more waterfalls in Kauai than anywhere I’ve seen. That’s because there is more rain in Kauai than just about anywhere on earth.
A Temple
We stumbled on upon a unique Hindu temple in the hills of the south side above Kapaa. On the lush, tropical grounds, the devotees have created a majestic testimony to their faith. Victoria and I appreciate devotion wherever we find it and in whatever form it presents itself. This is the spirit which we try to bring to the dental practice and to our daily lives. Holistic means whole and we find that balance is important not only for our health but to our happiness and peace of mind. Dentistry takes a certain amount of devotion to do well. That is the only way I have been able to do it and enjoy it over the 30+ years I’ve been practicing.
Aloha from Dr O and Victoria
We would like to thank all the people who wished us well and encouraged us to go on our vacation. It is deeply appreciated and we were touched by the outpouring of good will. We are blessed to have to type of relationship with our patients that we have. We set up the practice so that this would be possible, and we are very fortunate. Going to Kauai forced us to slow down and reboot, and now we are ready to start 2018 renewed and refreshed.
Carey O’Rielly DDS has been a practicing dentist for 35 years. He went to USC Dental School and Duke University for his undergraduate degree. He grew up in Laguna Beach and now lives in La Costa with his wife Victoria, who runs his office.
He began his career by owning and operating a network of six offices in the San Francisco Bay Area. Presently he owns a private holistic practice in North County San Diego’s Encinitas.
Dr. O started looking for solutions to his health challenges that resulted from the stress and environmental toxicity that built up over a ten year period running his dental network. He has dedicated himself to learning about oral systemic problems and how dentistry can affect your health. He has applied what he has learned over the last twenty years to ensure he, his staff and his patients are protected from the chemicals and toxic materials found in most dental offices. He has produced an environmentally friendly office that is also peaceful and calm.
He is an expert on dental materials having looked at hundreds of biocompatibility lab tests over the years. He has identified the most bio-friendly materials to use in his practice and which dental materials can be used to replace metal fillings and crowns, including BPA free and fluoride free ‘white’ fillings. He also uses metal-free Zirconia or ceramic implants and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) grafting materials which come from the patient’s own blood.
Dr. O’Rielly teaches C.E. courses on the systemic effects of gum disease. He is an expert in using phase contrast microscopy for analyzing dental infections, where he shows patients what kind of microbes, i.e. bacteria, amoeba, and yeasts like candida are populating the mouth and affecting the body as a whole.
He has an educational blog and is writing a book on dental health called ‘Hidden Dental Infections: Healing Root Canals and Infected Teeth with the Erbium Laser’ where he discusses dental nutrition, toxic dental materials and the effects of old root canals on inflammation and overall health.
